FARGO — Anastasia Higginbotham is a children's book author and illustrator, not an athlete, but to teach kids to stand up against racism, she's taking a knee next to Colin Kaepernick. The quarterback is pictured in her new book, "Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness," so when Higginbotham prepared for readings, she drew a cardboard cutout of the controversial star and a stadium backdrop.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — When Florida Georgia Line headlines Friday night, Aug. 3, at the three-day country music event WE Fest, the duo may be breaking a record. Singers Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley teamed up with Bebe Rexha on her single, "Meant to Be," which has topped Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart for 34 weeks. The tune's longevity there ties it with Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" for the longest stay at the top of that chart.

FARGO — When St. Paul's Summit Brewing Co. hit a bump in the road at the end of 2017 and was forced to lay off employees for the first time in its 32-year history, founder and president Mark Stutrud looked back home to get the company back on track. The brewer released a new beer with barley grown on his cousin's North Dakota farm. Dakota Soul has been such a success, Summit has been forced to more than double its production of the lager. The beer will likely be Summit's third best-selling beer, making up about 10 percent of sales by the end of the year, Stutrud says.

FARGO — The Fourth of July is one of the biggest beer-drinking holidays in the country, but if you really want to celebrate America's history, put down the Bud Light and consider a fortified wine from the Portuguese Madeira Islands off the coast of Africa. Or perhaps raise a glass of Philadelphia Fish House Punch. Or if you really want to start a revolution in your head and stomach, consider a Rattle Skull.

Hans and Kyleigh Grafstrom were recently married and just had a baby when they decided to buy a house. Not just any house, though; they wanted a fixer-upper to flip. "We thought, 'Let's try this for the first house,' " Kyleigh recalls. The couple found an old home that needed some work and in December of 2014, they bought one at 124 10th St. N., Moorhead. Now, three years later they've turned the fixer-upper into a turn-key home to sell. The process was an eye-opener, but all of the do-it-yourself work and self-discovery was worth it for the young couple.

FARGO — As we settle into the post-holiday season, it's time to take a long look at winter. The big question this time of the year — especially during the recent Arctic coldsnap — is, "Why do we live here?" The most common response is that while winter seems longer than any other season, each has its benefits and experiencing the splendor of all four seasons is reason to stay. While each season offers so much to savor, winter's food offerings may get a bit washed out after all of the holiday cookies and sweets.

FARGO—"Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go." Over the next month, people will be hitting the road to spend the holidays with family and friends. As there's not always room at the inn, or Grandma's new condo, more and more people are looking to alternative short-term housing options like Airbnb. While rental owners try to make their guests feel at home, some also try to strike a balance when it comes to holiday decor.

FARGO — Before you go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house, make sure you pack for the trip. Or rather, pack for the unexpected things that could happen on the way. As the temperatures continue to drop, snow blows and winter travel can become dangerous, experts urge drivers to take precautions, not just behind the wheel, but even before getting in the car. If you haven't already, the time has come to check and pack your winter survival kit.

FARGO — In 2014, when Herman Stern was posthumously awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Roughrider Award — the highest honor for a North Dakotan — he was celebrated as a businessman and a civic leader. He ran Strauss clothing store for years, promoted the Boy Scouts of America and established chapters in the Red River Valley, founded what would become the United Way and oversaw the formative years of the North Dakota Winter Show. What may have come as a surprise to some was how he saved over 120 Jews from Germany as Adolf Hitler rose to power.